Tiger Muskellunge Lakes in Minnesota, Wisconsin & Michigan
Other SpeciesFound in 1 lakes
Tiger Muskellunge is a rough-fish species — typically common in productive, nutrient-rich lakes, sometimes treated as a management nuisance by anglers targeting game-fish. 1 lakes carry documentation. Tiger Muskellunge is narrowly distributed — only 1 lakes in North Dakota have a documented record. The constraint is usually habitat: cold water, specific depth profile, or river connection.
Rough-fish-dominant lakes are worth checking the grade on: a rough-fish-heavy fishery often reflects an underlying nutrient-loading problem in the watershed. Cross-reference the Tiger Muskellunge lake list below against the LakeGrade rubric: lakes with both an A or B grade and Tiger Muskellunge documented are the best places to start for recreational targeting.
Water Quality of Tiger Muskellunge Lakes
Best Tiger Muskellunge Lakes by Water Quality
Top 50 lakes with tiger muskellunge ranked by overall water quality grade.
| Rank | Lake | County | State | Grade | Depth | Species |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Elmo Lake | Washington | MN | A | 140 ft | 13 |
| 2 | Deer Lake | Itasca | MN | A | 121 ft | 17 |
| 3 | Moose Lake | Itasca | MN | B | 61 ft | 17 |
| 4 | Spider Lake | Itasca | MN | B | 36 ft | 14 |
| 5 | Lake Audubon | McLean | ND | B | 59.4 ft | 11 |
| 6 | Crystal Lake | Dakota | MN | C | 37 ft | 13 |
| 7 | Bryant Lake | Hennepin | MN | C | 45 ft | 11 |
| 8 | Orchard Lake | Dakota | MN | C | 33 ft | 13 |
| 9 | Crescent Lake | Cook | MN | C | 28 ft | 10 |
| 10 | Clear Lake | Washington | MN | C | 28 ft | 14 |
| 11 | Johanna Lake | Ramsey | MN | C | 43 ft | 13 |
| 12 | Crystal Lake | Hennepin | MN | C | 39 ft | 12 |
| 13 | Nokomis Lake | Hennepin | MN | C | 33 ft | 13 |
| 14 | Weaver Lake | Hennepin | MN | C | 57 ft | 15 |
| 15 | Gervais Lake | Ramsey | MN | C | 41 ft | 14 |
| 16 | Keller Lake | Ramsey | MN | C | 8 ft | 9 |
| 17 | Kohlman Lake | Ramsey | MN | D | 9 ft | 11 |
| 18 | Upper Estuary Lake | St. Louis | MN | D | 55 ft | 33 |
| 19 | Taft Lake | Hennepin | MN | F | 45 ft | 15 |
Frequently Asked Questions
How many lakes have tiger muskellunge?
Tiger Muskellunge are found in 1 graded lakes: 1 in North Dakota. The average water quality grade of lakes with tiger muskellunge is B (Good).
What are the best lakes for tiger muskellunge?
The best tiger muskellunge lakes by water quality are Elmo Lake, Deer Lake, Moose Lake, Spider Lake, Lake Audubon. These lakes have the highest water quality grades among all lakes where tiger muskellunge have been documented by state DNR surveys.
What other fish are found with tiger muskellunge?
Tiger Muskellunge are most commonly found alongside tiger muskellunge, yellow perch, black crappie, bluegill, largemouth bass. These species share similar habitat preferences in the region's lakes.
Other Fish Species in Tiger Muskellunge Lakes
Found together in 18 lakes · 113 total
Found together in 17 lakes · 41 total
Found together in 17 lakes · 240 total
Found together in 17 lakes · 172 total
Found together in 17 lakes · 145 total
Found together in 17 lakes · 840 total
Source: EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys, 2026.